Live Coverage

Armstrong on Oprah, Night 1

Our editors and special guests discuss the legal, PR and sporting ramifications of Lance Armstrong's OWN appearance, as well as the historical context of the Texan's career. Editor-in-chief Neal Rogers and VeloNews.com editor Brian Holcombe anchor the conversation and will be joined by reporter Matthew Beaudin, contributors Dan Wuori, Mark Johnson and Ryan Newill, and others.

Ben - not sure I agree with your take. I feel like we got a decent dose of truth - but very little honesty. I don't think he really truly understands that what he did was wrong (not so much the doping - the character destruction). He sounded like a kid apologizing because his parents made him.

Betsy, in tears: "This is a guy who used to be my friend. He could have come clean. He says he didn't like the UCI? He owned the UCI. He said he didn't force his teammates to dope? That's a bunch of crap... I was willing to give him a chance, and this is how he responds."

it appears that Betsy knows the difference between a lie and the truth...

by Marcel Garderen1/18/2013 3:39:23 AM

@Brian Holcombe she is pissed... she comes across far more credible than Lance in my opinion.

by George1/18/2013 3:39:54 AM

Wow, Betsy Andreu is FIRED UP: "I think he's still protecting people who were loyal to him."

by Neal Rogers1/18/2013 3:40:55 AM

All the hype about the Oprah interview and it only takes Betsy five minutes to get to the point.

by Marshall Hannum1/18/2013 3:42:08 AM

I agree with Betsy, Lance is protecting people. Notwithstanding his general adnission of doping, Armstrong gave up very little in the interview.

by hmstichel1/18/2013 3:42:29 AM

We had intended to cut out at 10:45 pm ET, but we may keep going with CNN's interview. Thank you for following along tonight. Cooper going to Mike Anderson. Read Neal Rogers' feature from this morning on Anderson, Andreus, Mattt DeCanio and others: velonews.competitor.com

by Brian Holcombe1/18/2013 3:44:57 AM

We're back up. Lost you there for a moment.

by Brian Holcombe1/18/2013 3:46:46 AM

Now on CNN: Former Armstrong mechanic Mike Anderson: "I completely doubt his sincerity. I don't trust anything Lance Armstrong says, and I don't think [Oprah] was an appropriate venue for his confession."

by Neal Rogers1/18/2013 3:46:59 AM

Just started watching CNN. Bill Strickland looks like he is making a hostage tape.

by johnpcarroll1/18/2013 3:47:17 AM

The juxtaposition is remarkable between the bully and bullied. Lance is composed, because he still seems on message. Betsy, on the other hand, is rattled and emotional, and rightly so. It's tough to watch.

by Matt Beaudin1/18/2013 3:47:34 AM

During the Oprah interview, I thought that Armstrong's reluctance to talk about the hospital room or his conversation with Betsy might be because they had come to some type of legal settlement. But, after hearing Betsy, it is clear that they have not.

by hmstichel1/18/2013 3:48:03 AM

Coyle: It was an innovation race.

by Matt Beaudin1/18/2013 3:48:04 AM

Mark Johnson, thanks for the Lear quote, and have been enjoying your writing in Velo. We're watching this "great stage of fools" being revealed...somewhat. Love the dialogue you all are presenting. Thanks!

by eddieboy1/18/2013 3:48:36 AM

@Brian Holcombe THANKS FOR KEEPING THIS GOING...

by mattd1/18/2013 3:50:13 AM

Catharsis

by Dave Trendler1/18/2013 3:51:05 AM

There is some questioning among our team as to why Bicycling's Bill Strickland, co-author of Bruyneel's book "We Might As Well Win", is on this panel alongside Betsy Andreu and author Dan Coyle

by Neal Rogers1/18/2013 3:52:24 AM

Strickland did have a very public admission that LA was a fraud a few months back...

by Stacey Jenkins1/18/2013 3:55:59 AM

Thank you for keeping this going! This Anderson Cooper panel is riveting!

by Ray Whitney1/18/2013 3:56:07 AM

Betsy's so distraught, she's practically speechless.

by kat1/18/2013 3:56:20 AM

Betsy should get those 7 Tour wins!

by Jack Holmgren1/18/2013 3:56:27 AM

Betsy: "Lance can still redeem himself if he tells the truth, again, one more time — if he meets with USADA and WADA and tells them everything. There is no way he pulled off the biggest fraud in the history of sport by himself."

by Neal Rogers1/18/2013 3:57:49 AM

Jeff /toobin thinks Lance has opened the door to significant legal liabilities. Although I think that Lance is going to have some liabilities, I don't think that they will be as dire as Toobin suggests. Whether Toobin is right or I am, Lance still will be a very rich man at the end of the day.

by hmstichel1/18/2013 4:02:51 AM

Well, folks, we're going to shut this thing down for tonight. We'll be back on Friday night at 8:30 pm ET. Thank you again for following along. For the whole crew here at Velo offices and our team in the field around the globe, we appreciate you following, joining the conversation, and reading Velo magazine and VeloNews.com. We'll see you Friday.